Shostakovitch; String Quartets. Fitzwilliam. Decca NB.

	£		60
	$		79

e © AP6.0

Shostakovitch; String Quartets. Fitzwilliam. Decca NB. Decca Dutch Narrow Band D188D.

The below extract is from Arthur Salvatore of High End Audio Ltd.

***********SPECIAL AWARD************

*********FINEST CHAMBER MUSIC LP/ALBUM*********

SHOSTAKOVICH-STRING QUARTETS-FITZWILLIAM QRT-L'OISEAU`LYRE OR DECCA D188 D7

These 15 quartets were available either individually, or in a complete box set by Decca. The complete set was pressed in Holland, while the individual LP's were earlier English pressings. Both are outstanding, but they do sound different. The English pressings are a little more full bodied and have more harmonic content, while the Dutch are a touch cleaner and faster. Either way, this is one of, if not the finest chamber music set ever recorded.

The sonics are, of course, a little variable, but they are superb in almost every way. Highlight: The 9th Quartet has some stunning pizzicato notes that can drop your jaw. This is a perfect example of the "African Rabbits" effect discussed below with the Praetorius/Archive record in the Essays section.

The individual English LP pressings have already been in steady demand, so look for them for $ 15 to $ 20 each. The Decca box set (7 LP's) is cheaper, usually $ 75 or so, but it is also rarer.NOTE: While this set is the finest chamber music recording I know of, it still is not the sonic equal of the records within the top two classes. It has a slight "veil" and the noise-floor is not ultra-low. I will continue to look for its worthy successor.Comparisons: I made sonic comparisons of this album with two other much acclaimed (and even rarer) Shostakovich Quartet sets, both performed by the Borodin Quartet, and both on EMI. The older set has only the first 13 quartets, while the more recent set is complete.

The Decca/Fitzwilliam set has some sonic advantages over both of the EMI/Borodins. The earlier Borodin album (SLS 879), is noticeably veiled, compressed and blunted in comparison with the Decca.

The main problem with the second Borodin set is its tonal variability. This Borodin also doesn't have quite the incredible dynamic swings of the Decca. The Borodin set includes "live" performances, with noises from the audiences and stagehands clearly audible at times.

As for the actual performances, both the early Borodin and Fitzwilliam set originally received a special "Rosette" from the Penguin Record Guide, but, more recently, those same Penguin critics wrote that these latest Borodin performances were "in a class of their own". The choice between these sets is obviously a tough judgement call.

The above extract is from Arthur Salvatore of High End Audio.

Dutch pressings can be superior to the earlier UK pressings due to the following facts.....

1. They used superior cutting heads (possibly Neumann SX-74 helium-cooled disc cutter which could reveal the sweet high frequencies on the original tape) and superior mastering amplifiers.
2. The engineers also had more accumulated experience by this time.
3. They used purer and quieter vinyl.
4. The inner sleeves used rice paper instead of the earlier (sticky and noisy) plastic which could bond to the vinyl. 5. They still used the original tapes which were mastered at Decca?s plant in New Malden in England.

This record and sleeve are in NM/NM condition (vinyl/sleeve). This boxset doesn't look as if it has been played so it may even be Mint/Mint.

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The LPs and sleeves are visually graded under a strong light and play graded if necessary on a Garrard 401 turntable with SME 3009 II tonearm. When play graded the results will be reported here.

I am now selling 50+ records every week by auction on eBay.

I also have 2,000+ classical vinyl records on various labels which I am gradually selling at just 1.00GBP each with "Buy it Now" on my eBay shop and not by auction.

GRADING

M = A 'Mint' record and sleeve has never been played and may still be in it's original wrapping.

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Number of LP's

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

JAPAN/REST OF WORLD

6

9

13

16

19

22

23

USA/HONG KONG

6

8

12

14

16

18

19

EUROPE

4

5

7

8

9

10

11

UK

2.50

3.50

5.50

6.50

7.50

8.50

9.50

WORLD SURFACE MAIL

3

4

6

7

8

9

10

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